Joh 4:19 | KingComments | STEP | Before the Lord can give her the water which will become a well of water in her, her conscience must first be brought into God’s light. She must first be convinced of her sins. In view of this, He says that she must go and call her husband. However, He says not only “go”, but also “and come here”. His goodness is not limited by her sinful life. On the contrary, His goodness is proven by it. By His question, the woman is discovered to herself. When she says “I have no husband”, it is not an excuse, but an acknowledgment that she lives in sin by living together unmarried. The Lord confirms that her answer is correct. In the remainder of His response He speaks just a few words, but these words bring her into God’s light. However, she is not consumed by that light, but introduced into grace. He demonstrates to her that to Him her history is an open book. The truth does not spare her and opens her sin to God and to her own conscience. She acknowledges this as the light of God. The woman acknowledges that the Lord’s words are not of human wisdom, but of God’s power. That is what a prophet does and what Christ as Prophet does here. A prophet speaks the words of God whereby the listener enters the presence of God and is discovered to himself (cf. ). To the woman, the Lord was first only “a Jew” ( ), now He is already “a prophet” and soon she will confess Him as “the Christ” ( ). Thus we see how her faith rapidly progresses through the gracious work of Christ in her soul. It is grace that does not hide her sin from her and makes her realize that God knows everything. And yet, He Who knows everything is there without disturbing her. Her sin is before God, but God does not judge her. What a wonderful encounter is this between a heart burdened by sins and God, an encounter brought about by Christ. Grace inspires confidence.

‏ John 4:19

Conscience in the light

Before the Lord can give her the water which will become a well of water in her, her conscience must first be brought into God’s light. She must first be convinced of her sins. In view of this, He says that she must go and call her husband. However, He says not only “go”, but also “and come here”. His goodness is not limited by her sinful life. On the contrary, His goodness is proven by it.

By His question, the woman is discovered to herself. When she says “I have no husband”, it is not an excuse, but an acknowledgment that she lives in sin by living together unmarried. The Lord confirms that her answer is correct. In the remainder of His response He speaks just a few words, but these words bring her into God’s light. However, she is not consumed by that light, but introduced into grace.

He demonstrates to her that to Him her history is an open book. The truth does not spare her and opens her sin to God and to her own conscience. She acknowledges this as the light of God. The woman acknowledges that the Lord’s words are not of human wisdom, but of God’s power. That is what a prophet does and what Christ as Prophet does here. A prophet speaks the words of God whereby the listener enters the presence of God and is discovered to himself (cf. 1Cor 14:24-25).

To the woman, the Lord was first only “a Jew” (Jn 4:9), now He is already “a prophet” and soon she will confess Him as “the Christ” (Jn 4:29). Thus we see how her faith rapidly progresses through the gracious work of Christ in her soul. It is grace that does not hide her sin from her and makes her realize that God knows everything. And yet, He Who knows everything is there without disturbing her. Her sin is before God, but God does not judge her. What a wonderful encounter is this between a heart burdened by sins and God, an encounter brought about by Christ. Grace inspires confidence.